Method of making toe stiffeners



Nov. 5, 1929 E. P. CARR METHOD OF MAKING TOE STIFFENERS Filed Dec. 17,' 1925 Mem?? Patented Nov. 5, 1929l UNITED STATES EVANS P. CARR, F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK METHOD or atacante,- TOE srrrrnnnias Application'led December 17, 1923. Serial No..` 681,152.

The-invention relates to improvements inv the manufacture of box toe or box toe material, and more particularly to the method of making the same. A well known step in the art consists in coating or saturating a piece of fabric to be interposed between the vamp lining and tip lining of shoes and'boot caps, with a solution of Celluloid, and to unite the parts While still wet. This procedure has the great disadvantages thateach stiiener must be treated individuall on either side with the celluloid, which requires careful handling, time for do ing so, and waste.

The object of the present invention ,is to eliminate the above disadvantages, and therefore in this particular, there is used a liquid Celluloid or any of its variations or bases,

such as pyralin,pyroxylin, parkesine, etc., for

a box toe preparation to be used in the .following manner. y

A suitable size piece of fabric, adaptable for making a determined number of box toes or box toe material, is coated with the above indicated preparation, whereupon this coated .I

fabric is left to become almost dry, and a thin piece of fabric is then placed over said coated face of the frstmentioned piece of fabric. On the assembly of the several pieces of fab- A '30 ric with the coating therebetween, the unit v is then passed between heated rolls to remove wrinkles from the fabric, and, thus rendered,-

Ysmooth, which latter; is thereafter dried thoroughly. The materials thus treated are cut into suitable sizes and shapes for use as abox vtoe or box toe stiffener in boots and shoes.

'Ihe sized and shaped box toe blanks are nowisoaked in a suitable softener until the,k samep become soft and pliable, then they :are

put into an air tight receptacle, which. will maintain them in suitable temper for subsequent usethe recetacle being ofj a character to assure the .blanks of a soft and pliable condition 'for' six to'eight hours. The'toc blanks tlfus treated will be taken from the receptacle'as needed by an operator and properly placed in the toe of a boot or shoe upper prior to the lasting thereof. Now when the operator pulls the upper over the last 'thev softened solution will be caused to ooze through the fabric at both sides of the blankand thereby soak the lining and toe lining C, of the'boot or shoe, and on the drying of the fabric and linings there will be present a hard v yet' pliable box toe, and thoroughly waterproof.

The thin piece of fabric placed over the coated fabric at its coated side will keep the coating from running while being softened and prevent the solution on the softening thereof from soiling the hands of the operator, thereby avoiding the possibility of the latter stainin the boots or shoes in the formation thereo which would Otherwise be the result should the coating substance get upon the hands, as lit is extremely sticky. It is of course understood and known that an Operator has to catch hold ofthe upper of the boot Or shoe immediately after placing the box toe blankA in position, to guide it in the machine, so he would have no chance to wipe the sticky solution from his fingers should the same get thereon.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the features of Vconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more full described, illustrated in thex accompanying rawing, and pointedvout ir the claims hereunto-30 ap ended; Y

n the accompanying drawings:

FigureAl is a plan view of a toeboxing or `stifener constructed and treated in ac- Figure 2 is a sectionalyiew thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the rawings. fr

Referring to the drawing, `in detail, A, desa the base fabric, preferably canvasalthou any-other suitable fabric material may e used, and uponl one face of this fabric isa plied inany desirable manner a liquid ce udoid or one of its vari' 95 ations or'bases-although any stiifener which can be coated onto a 'suitable covering, dried y and softenedy again by means of a `suitable solvent may be Iused-as indicated at B,`but

ignates generally preferably pyralin', pyroxylin or nitro-cellu- 1GO 60 vis to belmade in the form of sheeting andA box toe. The box toe when hard will a manner and with a solution so thick that rolls to remove all` wrinkles therefrom and thus render the same smooth. After the fabrics in their united form have become thoroughly dried, the treated material is to V be out into `suitable sizes and'shapes for use as a box toe stifener, in boots and shoes. In the cutting of the thin cloth C, the Vedge 5, thereof is inset from lthe -edge 6, of the fabric A, whereby the latter will extend beyond said, cloth C, thereby eliminating a ridge at. the tip line of the boot or shoewhen the stiifener or boxing has been placed therein.

On the cuttingof the material treated in the size and shape asexemplified in Figure l, of the drawing, the blank i's soaked in a' suitable softener until it becomes soft and pliable, then taken out and put into an air-tight container or receptacle, which will'keep it in suitable temper for a period of from six to eight hours.

The blanks are taken from the container put in proper place in the toe ofa boot or shoe upper. When subjected to pressure in pulling the upper overl a last, the softened v arcano may be taken out and Aplaced in proper posiv tion in-toe of upper without dipping itin lthe V*softening solutlon.

What is claimed is: The herein vdescribed method box toe stiifeners, which consists in coating a fabric with a celluloid solution; allowing the coatin to become partially dry; spreading a composite material through heated rolls to smooth out' the; wrinkles; allowing the smoothed' mater al. to becomethoroughly dried; cutting out the stiifeners; and soaking them in a softener when required for use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

v Sf P. CARR,

.o`r receptacle as needed by an operator and o solution will ooze through both pieces of fabric of the blank and soak the hning and tip linin of the boot or shoe andthe whole after rying will become a hard yetV liable solutely waterproof;

eab-

As has been stated the thin Acloth piece.

put over the coating in the first instance will keep the coating from running while being` softened and prevent the solutlon when softl from soiling the hands of the operator.

It is known that a cloth coated or saturated with a celluloid solution is now in use, but,

the article herein described is lcoated n such only the slighest amount appears on the other side of the cloth and the coating is allowed to partially dry before puttngg that `covers it, so that no solutl can satu-`v rate the same. 4The lunit when softened'is l effected in such manner that the solution is ed upon to force'the sointion through the cloth A and lnto the'lining of the shoe or boot. y

Thebox toe material treated as heretofore cut linto box toe blanksafterwards.

.i es

The cloth or fabric or other material u sed for covering the sti'ener may be ,cut into proper size and shapefox' the box toe blanks the cloth ofk inaking fils 80 A thin abrio over the coating; runningA the 

